Kolkata's Maa Canteen Scheme Faces LPG Supply Crisis
The Maa Canteen initiative in Kolkata, a vital community kitchen program offering affordable meals to citizens in need, is grappling with a severe LPG crisis. Cooperative societies responsible for operating these canteens have urgently written to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) seeking assistance to resolve the gas shortage, which threatens the continuity of this essential service.
Impact on Daily Meal Distribution
Under the scheme, KMC provides funding to cooperative societies to run 130 Maa Canteens across the city. Each canteen sells lunch packets for just Rs 5, containing rice, dal, a seasonal vegetable, and egg curry. According to estimates, these community kitchens prepare approximately 45,000 meals daily, serving as a crucial lifeline for many residents. However, the lack of a regular LPG cylinder supply has made it increasingly difficult to maintain operations.
Official Response and Operational Challenges
A KMC official from the social sector department, tasked with coordinating with the cooperative societies, acknowledged the crisis. "Several agencies running the community kitchens for Maa Canteens wrote to us to take effective steps to resolve the crisis," the official stated. "We took note of their grievances and will discuss the matter with the civic brass accordingly. Under no circumstances should the canteens cease to exist." Despite these assurances, sources revealed that three out of the 130 Maa Canteen stalls have already shut down due to operational hazards linked to the LPG shortage.
Call for Immediate Action
Civic officials are hopeful that Mayor Firhad Hakim will intervene by taking up the issue with the state government to ensure a swift resolution. The cooperative societies' appeals highlight the urgency of the situation, as any prolonged disruption could severely impact food access for vulnerable populations. The KMC is now under pressure to implement effective measures to restore LPG supplies and safeguard this affordable meal scheme, which plays a key role in Kolkata's social welfare infrastructure.
